Trailer raid accused are barred from Doagh area

TWO men accused of stealing thousands of pounds worth of construction equipment are to be barred from entering part of Co Antrim, a judge ordered yesterday.

Martin Maughan (46) and Michael Mongan (48) were allegedly involved in raids on high-value trailers and a rock breaker.

Both defendants were granted bail on condition that they keep out of the village of Doagh.

Maughan, of Ross Rise in Belfast, and Mongan, from David Street in the city, are jointly charged with three separate thefts.

They are accused of stealing a rock breaker worth £1,200 from the Station Road area of Doagh on May 20.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard that they were arrested after police located them in a van at a B&Q car park in Newtownabbey.

Mongan faces further counts of driving while disqualified and fraudulent use of registration marks in connection with false number plates allegedly on the vehicle.

Police claimed the van is also linked to two other thefts in the Newtownabbey area earlier in the month.

A plant trailer valued at £2,900 was stolen from Bombardier on May 1, while a second trailer said to be worth more than £1,000 was taken from The Harvey Group two days later.

Opposing bail for the two accused, a detective rai s ed concerns about potential witness intimidation and further offending.

But defence lawyers argued there was no forensic or CCTV evidence linking their clients and stressed the time they have been held on remand.

Barrister Richard Mcconkey said Maughan suffered a heart attack shortly before he was taken into custody.

Counsel for Mongan, John O’connor, contended: “The delay in this case is now borderline outrageous.”

Granting bail to both defendants, Judge Laura Ievers ordered them to live under curfew at addresses approved by police.

She also directed: “They will be excluded from Doagh.”